Shears.



PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

G. P. TAYLOR.

SHEARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"wulfcess esz 9 lea/c2291 No. 851,708. I 'BATENTBD APR. so, 1907.

. e. P. TAYLOR.

SHEARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2511905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Tuii e ses: 17 6 amt-a0.-

/ 7395M (kalil'iylaa.

5 constructed UNITED STATES PiaTENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. TAYLOR, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed September To allLwho m it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gnoncn P. Tarpon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clinton, in the county of \Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Shears, of which thefollowing is a speci'l'e cation.

This invention relates to apair of shears especially designed for use intrimming lawns.

The especial object of this invention is to provide a light, durable,e'llicient and inexpensive pair of shears which can be used in trimminga right position.

A further object of this invention is to construct the parts of sheetmetal so that the same can be stamped out in quantities at comparativelylow cost.

To these ends, this invention consists of the shears and of thecombinations of parts therein as hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a pair of shears constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2is a fragmentary view of the operating piece of the movable handle. Fig.3 is a perspective view of the movableshearblade. Fig. 4 is a 'lragmentary perspective bottom view of the construction. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the cover-plate for housing the working parts. Fig.6 is a sectional View taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a modified construction with the coverplatc omitted.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the operating plate of the movablehandle. Fig. t) is a detail view of the catch for holding the movableblade open until released by closing of the shearhandles. Fig. 10 is aperspective view of the gear segment for operating the movable shearblade. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the closing spring, and Fig. 12 is asectional view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 7.

In a pair of shears constructed according to this invention, the shearsare operated by handles of su'llicient length to permit a per- .son touse the same for cutting grass while standing in an upright position,the cutting blades of the shears being located at an angle with respectto the handles.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detail description of apair of shears according to this invention, Fig. 1 shows the simplerterm of shears embody- Speeification of Letters Patent.

lawn by a person standing in up- SHEARS.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Serial No. 280.097-

ing this invention, in which the movable cutting blade is operated by ageared connection from a movable handle; while the second sheet oidrawings illustrates a construction in which the movable blade isoperated in such a way that the cutting blades will snap together withspring pressure.

Referring to the first sheet of drawings, the

pair oi" shears illustrated thereby comprises a sheet metal angle-piecehaving the horizontal part 15 and the upwardly extending inclined part16. Formed with and extending 'from the horizontal part 15 is a fixedshear blade 17, and extending from the inclined part 16 is thehandletang or piece 19. The fixed shear-blade is preferably providedwith a serrated or saw-toothed cutting edge 18, and the entire sheetmetal stamping is preferably strengthened by corrugations 20 and 21, thecorrugation 21 extending part-way into the handle-tang 19 and also alongthe length of the fixed shear blade 17. The movable shear blade 22 isprovided at one side of its pivot with a strengthening corrugation 23,and at its other side has gear-teeth to be operated \l'rom the movablehandle as hereaiter referred to. The pivotal connection between theshear blades 17 and 22 is secured by a l bolt 24 and nut 26 which clampsthe blades l together by means of a spring washer 14. The spring-washer141, as shown in Fig. 1, is cut out to lit over the strengtheningcorruga tion 21 and is also notched to have the requisite spring actioni'or holding the shear blades together with the spring tension requiredfor producing the best cutting action. The movable shear blade isoperated by a handlepiece 27 which is pivoted on a screw 28 on theinclined part oi" the angle piece. At its lower end the movable .handlepiece 27 has gear-t eeth meshing with the gear-teeth of the movableblade, and above its pivot the handle-piece 27 is provided with ahandle-tang for fitting into the movable handle 31. The movable partsare preferably protected by an angle cover-plate 32 which maybe stampedout with strengthening corrugations 33. The cover-plate 32 is fastenedin place by a screw 36 which passes through 'a slot 37 in the movablehandle-piece 27 and by a screw 34 which passes through a slot in themovable shear-blade. In this construction it will be seen that thegeared connection reverses the relative motion between the operatingpiece and cutting blade, so that when l the handles are brought togetherthe shearblades will close. In the use of this form of shears also theweight is carried substantially by the fixed handle, and as the entireconstruction is comparatively light, the shears may be operated withvery little labor to trim the edges of lawns or grass-plots in a directand efficient manner.

In some cases, instead of gearing the movable shear-blade to the handleso as to secure a direct cutting action, it is desirable that the"movable shear-blade should be operated by a click or pawl motion so thatthe cutting action will be produced by spring pressure. A constructionfor doing this is shown in the second sheet of drawings. As illustratedin Fig. 7, an angle-piece or support is provided with a horizontal partand an upwardly extending angle part 41 Carried by the horizontal part40 is the fixed shear-blade 42 having a strengthening groove orcorrugation 43 and preferably a serrated or saw-toothed cutting edge.Extending up from the inclined part 41 is a handle-tang 44 for receivingthe fixed handle 60. The movable cutting blade 45 is pivoted on a screw46 threaded into the horizontal part of the anglepiece. The parts asthus far referred to are of substantially the same construction as thecorresponding parts of the form of shears illustrated in the first sheetof drawings. In order to operate the movable shear-blade by springpressure, the movable shear-blade is provided with a pin 47 and thefixed shearblade with a pin 48 extending up through a slot in themovable shear-blade. Engaging the pins 47 and 48 is a strong bent spring49 which will normally hold the shear-blades closed. In order to operatethe movable shear-blade so that the same will be released and allowed toclose under spring pressure, the movable shear-blade is provided at itsrear edge with gear-teeth. Meshing with the gear-teeth of the movableshear-blade 45 are gear-teeth of an operating sector 50. The sector 50,as shown in Fig. 10, is provided at one edge with a turned down flange51. The sector 50 is pivoted on a pivotscrew at a perforation 53, andalso pivoted on v the screw is a handle piece 54 which is connected tothe movable handle 61. Co-oper ating with the sector 50is a spring-platehaving a catch 52 for holding the shears open until the handles arenearly closed. The handle-piece 54, as shown in Fig. 8, is provided onits under side with a lug 55 which will force down the spring-plate 52to release the cutting blade when the handles are closed together. Inthe use of a pair of shears as thus constructed, the handle-piece of themovable handle will turn the operating sector to open the cutting shearswhen the handles are spread apart until the parts reach the posi' tionshown in Fig. 7, when it will be seen that the catch 52 will lock theoperating sector against return motion. When the movable handle is beingswung back to closed position, the shears will remain open until thespring-plate is forced down by the lug 55 of the handle-piece 54. Whenthis takes place, the cutting jaw will be released and will snap toclosed position under the force of its spring. In this construction,also, it will be seen that the parts are preferably pressed out of sheetmetal forming very light and strong shears which will have the advantageof'quick closing action.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the proportions and shapesofparts by those who are skilled in the art without departing from thescope of my invention as expressed in the claims. I do not wish,therefore, to be limited to the particular forms of shears which I haveherein shown and described, but

What I do claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the UnitedStates is 1. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprisingan angle-piece having a horizontal part with fixed cutting blade, arearwardly inclining part with fixed handle, a movable cutting jawpivoted on the hori zontal part of the angle piece, a movable handlepivoted on the inclined part of the angle-piece and means connected withthe handle for operating said movable jaw.

2. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising anangle-piece having a horizontal part with fixed horizontal cuttingblade, a rearwardly inclined part with fixed handle, a movablehorizontal cutting jaw pivoted on the horizontal part of the anglepiece,and a movable handle pivoted on the inclined part of the angle-piece,said movable cutting jaw and movable handle having a reverse motionconnection causing the cutting jaws to open when the handles areseparated.

As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising an angle-piecehaving a horizontal part with fixed horizontal cutting blade, arearwardly inclining part with fixed handle, a movable shear-bladepivoted to the horizontal part of the angle-piece on a vertical axis andhaving gear-teeth, and a movable handle pivoted on the inclined part ofthe angle-piece with gear-teeth meshing with the gear-teeth of themovable shearblade.

4. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising anangle-piece having a horizontal part with fixed shear-blade, a

. rearwardly inclining part with fixed handle,

a movable shear-blade, a vertical pivot-bolt with spring-washer thereonfor mounting the movable shear-blade on the horizontal part of theangle-piece, and a movable handle pivoted on the inclined part of theanglepiece and connected to operate the movable shear-blade.

5. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising anangle-piece having a Ioo horizontal part with fixed shear-blade, amovable blade open, a spring for normally rearwardly inclining part withfixed handle, a movable shear-blade pivoted on the horizontal part ofthe angle-piece, and an angular cover-plate fastened on the angle-pieceand protecting the working parts.

6. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising anangle-piece having a horizontal part with fixed shearblade, a rearwardlyinclining part with fixed handle, a movable-shear-blade pivoted on thehorizontal part of the angle-piece with gearteeth, a movable handlepivoted on the rear- Wardly inclined part of the angle-piece withgear-teeth meshing with the gear-teeth of the movable blade, and acover-plate fastened to the angle-piece and inclosing the working parts.

7. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising a fixedhandle and fixed shear-blade, a movable shear-blade pivotally connectedwith the fixed shear-blade, a spring normally closing the movableshearblade, a catch for holding the movable shearblade open, and amovable handle having means for releasing the catch to permit themovable shear-blade to close.

8. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising anangle-piece having a horizontal part with fixed shear-blade, arearwardly inclining part with fixed handle, a movable shear-bladepivoted on the horizontal part of the angle-piece and having gear-teeth,a gear-piece pivoted on the inclined part of the angle-piece and meshingwith the gear-teeth of the movable shearblade, a spring-plate having acatch holding the movable blade open, a spring for normally closing themovable shear-blade, a movable handle turning with the gear-piece toopen the shears and bending the spring to release the movableshear-blade as the handles are closed.

9. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising a fixedshear blade, a fixed handle connected therewith, a movable shear bladehaving gear teeth, a gear piece pivotally mounted with respect to thefixed shear blade and having teeth meshing with the gear teeth of themovable shear blade, a spring plate having a catch for holding theclosing the movable shear blade, and a movable handle for turning withthe gear piece to open the shears and bend the spring to release themovable shear blade as the handles are closed.

10. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising two shearblades pivotally connected together, a handle for each shear blade, anintermediate piece located between one shear blade and its handle andpivotally connected with said handle, said intermediate piece havingmeans for operating the shear blade, a spring plate having a catch forholding the intermediate piece in such position as to hold the bladesopen, and means on the movable handle for disengaging the catch from theintermediate piece to allow the blades to close.

11. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising two shearblades movably connected together, a spring plate having a catch forholding the blades open, and a handle for operating one of the bladeshaving means for disengaging the catch to allow the blades to close.

12. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising an anglepiece having a fixed shear blade, a fixed handle connected with theangle piece, a movable shear blade pivoted on the angle piece, and acover plate fastened on the angle piece to protect the working parts.

13. As an article of manufacture, a pair of shears comprising pivotedcutting blades, pivoted handles, and a multiplying connection betweenone of the handles and a cutting blade, comprising a gear segmentconnected with the handle, and a gear segment with shorter radiusmeshing therewith and. connected with the blade for securing a differentangular movement of the cutting blade from the angular movement of thehandle which operates the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses.

PHILIP W. SoU'rIIcA'rE, MARY E. REGAN.

